INTERNAZIONALI BNL D'ITALIA

May 14, 2022

Novak Djokovic

Flash Quotes

N. DJOKOVIC/C. Ruud

6-4, 6-3

Q. Start with the match, how well did you play today?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I thought I played very well. I started fantastic, I mean, 4-Love. Then I did slow down a bit. I did drop my level. I wasn't feeling that great on the court I think for about 15 minutes. He used that to get himself back in the first set.

It was important to close it out in the 10th game to clinch the first set. Second set, close couple of games at the beginning. But I always felt like I was in his service games, always had chances.

Yeah, I thought I played really, really well in the last four games of the match. Hopefully I can take that level into tomorrow.

Q. You've reached this amazing milestone of a thousand wins at tour level. How do you feel about it?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yeah, thanks to the tournament and the crowd for celebrating the milestone with me. Obviously I've seen Roger and Rafa celebrate those milestones in the last couple years. I was looking forward to get to that thousand myself. I'm really, really blessed to have that many victories on the tour.

It's been a long time, ever since I played my first match, ever since I won my first match on the tour. Hopefully I can keep going.

Q. Tsitsipas in the final. Nearly a year since you met. It was on the clay, too.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: It was the finals of Roland Garros. Again, another finals against him in one of the biggest tournaments we have in the world. He's definitely in form. Last few years he's been top two, three players in general, but top two, three on clay court, reaching the finals in the biggest events on clay.

Tough match. Last year, two years ago we played a really long two-day quarterfinal. Yeah, I can expect a big battle, but I'm ready for it.